Charles Buckworth

RPC

RPC outsourcing and technology specialist Charles Buckworth joined the firm in 2016 from a senior associate position at Allen & Overy, and was made up to partner last year, a fast-track promotion built on solid client contacts and juicy mandates.

In 2019, Buckworth oversaw a gargantuan procurement effort for UK cash machine network Link, which connects 70,000 ATMs and powers billions of customer transactions. The two-year negotiation proved complex. Buckworth’s TMT squadron faced numerous stakeholders, the network’s 35 bank members and tight regulatory parameters from the risk-averse Bank of England and the Payment Systems Regulator, which monitored competition issues.

Buckworth tackled a tender process for the provision of technology services around Link’s infrastructure, triggered by the UK regulator’s demand for a competitive run. Bidders included Visa, FIS and incumbent provider Vocalink, among others. The latter ultimately retained its spot, winning a 10-year contract for ATM-related switching and settlement services.

This year, Buckworth will be tackling a number of major outsourcing projects that are unlikely to be any less complex.